We are buying a newbuild apartment in Paddington with a homeloan from Barclays Direct.We have a Paddington conveyancing practitioner but Barclays Direct informed us she’s not on their "panel". we are left little option but to use a Barclays Direct panel firm or retain our preferred solicitor and pay for a Barclays Direct panel lawyer to represent them. This seems very unfair; is there anything we can do?

No, not really. The loan issued to you contains terms and conditions, a common one being that lawyers will be on the Barclays Direct solicitor panel. Until recently, most lenders had large numbers of law firms on their panels: a borrower could choose one for themselves, as long as it was on the lender's panel. The lender would then simply instruct the borrower's lawyers to act for the lender, too. You can use your lender's panel lawyers or you could borrow from another lender which does not restrict your choice. Another option that might be available is for your solicitors to apply to be on the conveyancing panel for Barclays Direct

Me and my brother purchased a terraced Edwardian house in Paddington. Conveyancing solicitor acted for me and Coventry Building Society. I happened to do a free search for it on the Land Registry database and I saw a couple of entries: one for freehold, another for leasehold with the exact same property. If a house is not a freehold shouldn't I have been informed?

You should assess the Freehold register you have again and check the Charges Register for mention of a lease. The best way to be sure that you are also the registered proprietor of the leasehold and freehold title as well is to check (£3). It is not completely unheard of in Paddington and other areas of the country and poses no real issues for owners other than when they sell they have to account for both freehold and leasehold interests when dealing with mortgage companies. You can also check the situation with the conveyancing lawyer who completed the work.

I'm buying my first flat in Paddington with a loan from Lloyds TSB Bank. The builders refused to move on the price so I negotiated £7000 of extras instead. The sale representative advised me not disclose to my solicitor about the deal as it will jeopardize my mortgage with the lender. Is this normal?.

All lenders require a Disclosure of Incentives Form from the builder of any new build, converted or renovated property, It is available online from the Lenders’ Handbook page on the CML website. CML form is completed and handed to the lender's surveyor when the inspection is done.

Lenders have different policies on incentives. Some accept none at all, cash or physical, while others will accept cash incentives up to 5%.

Hard to understand why the representative of a builder would be suggesting you withold information from a solicitor when all this will be clearly visible on forms the builder has to supply to its solicitor, the buyer's solicitor and the surveyor.

My uncle has suggested that I instruct his conveyancing solicitors in Paddington. Should I find my own solicitor?

Much as we are happy to recommend a Paddington conveyancing lawyer it’s preferable to select a conveyancing solicitor is to get guidance from friends or relatives who have actually used the solicitor that you are are thinking of instructing.

I'm buying a house in Paddington. I have found my conveyancer's company on the Law Society's list, but I can't see my lawyer's name on the list. Should I be concerned?

Not every individual in the practice must be listed by the regulator. As long there is a manager qualified to 'oversee' the transaction, the actual day-to-day activity can be conducted by unlicensed staff.